Window lock



ITML

May 16, 1939- E. F, sTlLLMAN 2,158,260

WINDOW LOCK Filed April 4, 195s Fig-1. i-glam E.

-VeHOr- Eeu//N F. 57/LMHN Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW LOCK Erwin F. Stillman, Lompoc, Calif. Application April 4, 1938, Serial No. 199,846 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-336) This invention relates generally to closures, and more particularly to locks for double hung windows.

t is an object of this invention to provide a lock of simple and compact construction, which, in its association with the sashes of a doublehung window, is operable automatically to lock the sashes closed when they are moved to their closed positions all in a manner to enable the lock to be manually moved to, and releasably retained in, an unlocking position, so as to leave both hands free to open the window, during which operation the lock will be released automatically from its unlocking position, for an automatic locking of the window upon restoring the sashes to closed position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a window lock of the above described character which utilizes the force of gravity to maintain the locking and unlocking positions of the lock, and

which is so arranged that any force resulting from an attempt to open the window when closed, will be effectively resisted without placing the mechanism of the lock under any stresses which might damage the mechanism or cause failure thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements as set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a View of a double-hung window in inside elevation, with the lock embodying this invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the lock and a portion of the window in elevation;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 and showing the locking position of the mechanism embodied in this invention;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 3v and illustrating other positions nism;

Figure 'T-is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line i-l of Figure 2.

Referring specically to the drawing, the invention comprises a support S in the form of a rectangular metal plate I secured by screws II preferably to the left hand side rail I2 of the upof the mechaper sash I3 of a double-hung window W adjacent.

the bottom of such sash, as shown in Figure 1. The support S covers a pocket` I4 which is formed in the side rail I 2 to freely receive the mechanism of this invention which is mounted on the plate III and is composed of a locking member L having the general contour of a rectangular bar pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin I5 supported by spaced lugs I6-I 6 projecting from the inner side of the plate I0.

The pin I5 provides a horizontal axis about which the locking member L is freely swingable parallel to a verticalY plane, with the mass composing the locking member so distributed relative to the axisV of the pin I5 that, under the action of gravity,`the locking member normally tends to occupy the locking position shown in Figures 2 and 3, wherein the lower portion I'I of the locking member extends freely through a slot I8 in the plate I0. When the window is closed as shown in these figures, the lower portion I'I is disposed in the path of upward vertical movement of a keeper K in the form of a rectangular metal plate secured by screws I9 on the upper surface of the meeting rail of the lower sash 2 I. The bottom face 22 of the locking member and a portion 23 of the keeper are arranged to contact flatwise in such direction that, should an attempt be made to raise the lower sash 2| when locked, the upward force exerted upon the locking member by the keeper will tend to maintain the locking member in locking position, and will be transferred by a transverse shoulder 24 on the locking member, to an abutment 25 formed on the plate I0 by the upper end of its slot I8, thus entirely relieving the pivot pin I5 and lugs I 6 of any stress which might tend to damage or derange such parts.

An actuator A for the locking member, which is in the form of a ilat bar, is pivoted adjacent its lower end at one side of the locking member L on a pin 26 and is provided at its upper end with a lateral projection dening a finger piece 21 having a nger receiving eye 28. The finger piece 2l works freely in a slot 29 in the plate I9, and it is to be noted that the distribution of mass of the actuator is such that it is adapted to be retained by the action of gravity in both of its extreme positions shown respectively inFigures 3 and 4.

The extreme position of the actuator shown in Figure 3 is definitely determined by the pin I 5 engageable by a shoulder 30 on the actuator, and it will be noted that in this position of the actuator the forward edge of its finger piece 21, which is rounded to form a cam 3|, is flush with the outer surface of the plate I0. At one side of the slot 29 the plate I0 is depressed as indicated at 32 for co-action with a beveled portion 33 of the eye 28 (Figure 7) in enabling the end of a finger to be engaged with the eye 28 and the actuator swung manually to its other extreme position shown in Til Figure 4, wherein the camming edge 3l of the nger piece is disposed in the path of upward movement of the lower sash from its closed position shown in this figure.

The actuator A is provided with a pin 34 which definitely determines the locking position of the locking member L, and broadly constitutes an operative connection between the actuator and the locking member, this pin functioning in a manner to be described in the operation of the invention, which is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the sashes I3 and 2l of the window W are closed, and that under the ac tion of gravity the actuator A occupies its one extreme or releasing position shown in Figure 3, so

as to permit the locking member L to occupy its locking position under the action of gravity, as also shown in this figure, for co-action of the locking member L and keeper K in locking the sashes closed.

When it is desired to unlock the window, a finger of the operator is engaged with the eye 28 of the finger piece 21, and the actuator A pulled thereby to its other extreme or retaining position shown in Figure 4, this movement of the actuator causing the operative connection provided by the pin 34 to move the locking member L toits unlocking position shown in this gure. Now it will be noted that although the locking member L tends to occupy its locking position under the action of gravity, this tendency is opposed and counteracted by the actuator A, which, it will be remembered, tends to remain in either ofV its extreme positions by gravity, The gravitational effect of the actuator to remain in its retaining position shown in Figure 4 is in excess of the tendency of the locking member to return to locking position.

Both hands of the operator are now free to be applied to the window to open same. Upon raising the lower sash, for example, the keeper K will, during its upward movement, strike the cam surface 3| of the now projecting nger piece 21, and will coact therewith to return the actuator to its releasing position shown in Figure 3. 'I'his movement of the actuator is shown in Figure 5, from which it will be noted that as the pin 34 of the actuator is now free of the locln'ng member L, the latter will automatically return to its locking position under the action of gravity when closing movement of the lower sash, as illustrated in Figure 6, is completed, thus again locking the window closed, It will be manifest that each time both sashes occupy fully closed positions, the window will be automatically locked closed by the gravitationally operated locking member L, and

that upon unlocking the window by manipulation of the actuator A, the operator will have both hands free to open the window. It will also be apparent that the invention eliminates all springs v and relatively complex mechanisms which might otherwise be necessary to perform the various functions as above described.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a loclnng member; means pivotally mounting said member about a horizontal axis on the`upp'e'r sash of a double-hung window, to normally tend to assume a locking position with respect to the lower sash thereof, under the action of gravity; a manually operable actuator; means pivotally mounting said actuator about a horizontal axis on the upper sash to tend to remain in either a retaining or releasing position under the action of gravity; means providing an operative connection between the locking member and actuator,

responsive to movement of the latter to retaining position, to move the locking member to, and retain it in unlocking position against its tendency to occupy locking position; means co-actable with the actuator to restore the latter to its releasing position in response to opening of the window, so as to free the locking member for movement under the action of gravity, to its locking position, upon closing the window; and means coacting with the locking member to provide a rigid abutment on the upper sash, operable to receive any stress imposed on the locking member resulting from an attempt to open the window when locked, so as to relieve the pivotal mounting of the locking member of such stress.

2. A device of the class described comprising a locking member; means adapted to movably mount said member on a sash of a double-hung window, in a position to normally tend to occupy a locking position with respect to the other sash thereof, under the action of gravity; an actuator; means adapted to movably mount the actuator on said one of the window sashes, to remain in either of two extreme positions under the action of gravity; means co-actable with said actuator and locking member to move the latter to and retain it in unlocking position upon movement of the actuator manually to one of its extreme positions; means co-actable with the actuator in response to opening of the window to restore the actuator to its extreme position wherein the locking'member will be freed from the last means for movement to locking position; and means coactable with the locking member to provide a rigid abutment to which any load imposed on the locking member in an effort to open the window when locked, will be transferred, whereby to relieve the mounting means of the locking member from such load.

3. A device of the class described comprising a plate having openings therein and adapted to be secured tothe sash of a window; a locking bar pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate,'and having a locking portion adapted to project through one of said openings to occupy a locking position; an actuator pivotally mounted on said plate eccentrically of the pivot of said bar and having a finger piece adapted to project through another opening of the plate; and a pin on the actuator engageable with the locking bar to move the latter to an unlocking position upon manual movement of the actuator to one extreme position, and permitting the independent movement of the locking bar to locking position upon movement of the actuator to another extreme position;

4, A device of the class described comprising a plate having openings therein and adapted to be secured tothe sash of a window; a locking bar pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate, and having a locking portion adapted to project through one of said openings to occupy a locking position; an actuator pivotally mounted on said plate and having a finger piece adapted to project through another opening of the plate; means co-actable with the actuator and locking bar to move the latter to an unlocking position upon Vmanual movement of the actuator to one extreme position and permitting the independent movement of the locking bar to locking position upon movement of the actuator to another extreme position; and shoulders on said plate and locking bar engageable when the latter occupies locking position, for co-action in relieving the pivotal mounting of the locking bar of stress.

5. A device of the class described comprising a plate having openings therein and adapted to be secured to the sash of a window; a locking bar having a locking portion; a pin by which said bar is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate to gravitate to a locking position wherein said locking portion projects through one of the plate openings; a gravity actuator having a finger piece; a second pin by Which said actuator is pivotally mounted on said plate for movement manually against gravity to one extreme position wherein the nger piece projects through an opening of the plate; and a pin on the actuator co-actable with the locking bar when the actuator is manually moved as aforestated, to move the locking bar to and retain it in an unlocking position by gravity acting upon the actuator, yet permitting independent movement of the locking bar to locking position upon movement of the actuator from said one extreme position; said finger piece providing a cam engageable by a Window sash to move the actuator from said one extreme position to thereby permit the locking bar to move to looking position under the action of gravity.

6. A device of the class described comprising a plate having openings therein and adapted to be secured to the sash of a window; a locking bar having a locking portion; a pin by which said bar is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate to gravitate to a locking position wherein said locking portion projects through one of the plate openings; a gravity actuator having a finger piece; a second pin by which said actuator is pivotally mounted on said plate for movement manually against gravity to one extreme position wherein the nger piece projects through an opening of the plate; a pin on the actuator coactable with the locking bar when the actuator is manually moved as aforestated, to move the locking bar to and retain it in an unlocking position by gravity acting upon the actuator, yet permtting independent movement of the locking bar to locking position upon movement of the actuator from said extreme position; said nger piece providing a cam engageable by a window sash to move the actuator from said one extreme position to thereby permit the locking bar to move to locking position under the action of gravity; the plate having a rigid abutment; and a shoulder on the locking bar so disposed with respect to the pivot pin of the latter as to engage said abutment when the locking bar occupies locking position, for co-action with the abutment in relieving the pivot pin of stress.

ERWIN F. STILLMAN. 

